In carrying out the project, participants are expected to pay attention to the following points:

i) Theme of the study

The theme of study should be related to areas such as Hong Kong’s social characteristics (e.g. housing, education, social welfare and environmental protection) or economic characteristics (e.g. external trade and structural changes of the economy).

ii) Selection of data sets

Participants should select data relevant to their theme of study for analysis. Major data sources are restricted to official statistics found in publications of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Participants may make reference to the publication “Catalogue of Statistical Products and Services” published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) or visit the C&SD website (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk) to assist them in identifying appropriate government statistical publications or data. Participants may also make use of data sets found in other publications as supplementary data sources.

Participants are not allowed to use data obtained from self-conducted surveys for the purpose of the project.
(Although sample surveys are commonly used in collecting statistical data on social and economic affairs, the proper conduct of all the stages of a sample survey requires theoretical knowledge, experience and substantial resources. Unreliable or biased results may be obtained from sample surveys due to improper design or inadequacy in implementation; and these results may not only be meaningless but actually misleading and harmful. The Society wishes to avoid, as far as possible, this unsatisfactory situation.)

iv) Analysis and interpretation of data sets and presentation of results

Participants should thoroughly study and analyze the data sets selected. They are encouraged to conduct simple data analysis and statistical reasoning and, as far as possible, to avoid sophisticated statistical methods.

Participants should fully present the facts and information behind the figures. The results of the analysis should be properly presented, using summary statistics or graphical displays as appropriate. Discussions, arguments and findings should be based mainly on the analysis of data presented.

v) Preparation of report

The project should be submitted in the form of a report. The title of the report should reflect the chosen theme. In the report, the topic of the study should be properly introduced, results of the analysis clearly stated and conclusions drawn summarized.

The report should be handwritten or typewritten in either Chinese or English. The report should comprise no more than 20 pages of A4 size paper, including all appendices.

Data sources and other relevant references should be mentioned in footnotes or in the bibliography.

Submitted reports will not be returned.

vi) Originality of the study and project report

The study and compilation of the project report should be carried out by the participants themselves.

Teachers may give guidance and advice on identification of study theme and data analysis. However, they should not participate in the actual study work or the preparation of project report.

Plagiarism in whatever manner, including directly copying charts and tables from the Internet, will form the basis for disqualification.

The adjudication panel will comprise professionals working in the field of statistics, including academics from post-secondary institutions and statisticians from the Census and Statistics Department. The projects will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

a)   Appropriate use of descriptive statistics and statistical analysis/reasoning;

b)   Sound interpretation of data and analyses;

c)   Clear and neat presentation of findings;

d)   Good grasp of the theme of study;

e)   Use of relevant and adequate data sets; and

f)    Fluency of language.

Top

Organizing Committee

The organizing committee for the 2007/08 SPC is as follows: